W.B. Wilson
Biography For
Bollinger County, Missouri

W.B. Wilson Bollinger Co
Mo Biography

W.B. Wilson was born in what is now Cape
Girardeau County, MO, June 1, 1830.

He is a son
of John and Jane McDowell Wilson, natives of
North Carolina, and early immigrants to Missouri.
Of their ten children, three are living at the
present time: Sarah (Mrs Philip Schell), William
B and Pressia M. The father was a farmer by
occupation.

W.B. Wilson was seven years of age
when his father died.

He remained with his mother
until about twenty-six years of age, and in 1851
went to Southern California, where he mined for
about a year, but owing to ill health was
compelled to give up that work.

He remained about
four years longer, engaged in farming, and then
came home.

He followed farming and merchandising
until 1864, when he joined Company G,
Forty-seventh Missouri Volunteers, and was
commissioned captain, and served until peace was
declared.

In 1866 he moved to Wayne County, and
located on the St Francois River, about fifteen
miles from where he now lived.

In the fall of the
same year he moved to his present farm, which
consists of 1,500 acres of land. March 19, 1857
he married Margaret Whybark, who died in 1862,
leaving one child, Nevada.

April 12, 1863, he
wedded Elizabeth Harrison and by her became the
father of five children, four of whom are living;
Monroe, George, Jane and Lucy.

This wife died
September 16, 1879, and August 1, 1880, he was
united in marriage to Martha Sebastian Thompson,
and by her has two children, Florence and John.
Mr Wilson is a mason, and is one of the
substantial and intelligent men of the county.

He
was elected county treasurer at one time without
his consent, but would not serve.